Constable calls for more powers for douzaines

Ken Acott said he "liked the idea" of giving douzaines the ability to issue on-the-spot fines

One of Guernsey's elected constables has called for more powers for the island's douzaines.

St Peter Port Constable Ken Acott said he "liked the idea" of giving douzaines - parish councils - the ability to issue on-the-spot fines for things like littering cigarette butts and cycling on pedestrianised streets.

The St Peter Port Douzaine recently wrote to businesses in the parish to encourage them to clean up cigarette butts and other litter from their alfresco and smoking areas.

Acott said douzaines did not currently have "a lot of power to enforce these things" and he wanted new ways to "enforce the behaviours that we want to see".

He said: "We have to do it by highlighting the issue and encouraging individuals to play their part."

The constable said he also wanted to tackle bikes chained to railings, as blind and visually-impaired people could "stumble over them".

"To stop that we have to provide other places for bikes to properly be stored," he added.

Acott said he wanted to create a "virtuous circle" where locals and business owners recognised their parish was "their area and we could love it to be kept clean and tidy".

He said: "If we can get everybody playing their part we can make a huge difference."

Acott also encouraged locals to stand for the douzaine elections in November.